Now Brazil say England can reach final

in Sochi

England are good enough to threaten the best teams at the World Cup and can reach the final, according to Brazil defender Fagner. Brazil need to avoid defeat against Serbia on Wednesday to guarantee their progress to the last 16, where the Selecao could face Germany should they win their group and the world champions finish runners-up in theirs.

Fagner said Brazil’s players had been watching the other big nations in the competition and were in little doubt that England possess the strength and quality to reach the final at the Luzhniki Stadium on July 15. England could potentially face Brazil in the quarter-finals and Fagner, speaking a couple of hours after Gareth Southgate’s side thrashed Panama 6-1, said: “We know how strong England are, how strong their football is.

“They have great players and so

Big impression: Fagner says England are one of the tournament’s strongest teams do the likes of Spain, Portugal and Germany. We know in decisive moments these teams have a lot of tradition, a lot of ability and can get to the final. The level of the games are very high, we’re talking about the best players in the world. We have been watching the other games and we know they prepare well and make it more difficult for you.”

Neymar was in tears at the end of Brazil’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica after being overcome by emotion following severe criticism in the opening 1-1 draw against Switzerland. But Fagner says the Paris Stgermain forward has the complete trust of his team-mates and can withstand the pressure that comes with being Brazil’s talisman and the world’s most expensive footballer.

“Every athlete is a human being who has feelings and is entitled to be upset about things said about him,” the right-back said.

“He’s strong enough to face this in the best possible way. He’s been through a lot just to get to this World Cup after injury.”